Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-10-27
appealed to every sentiment that she

she made her last appeal.
Mrs. Grey" she said, Il have failed
in my mission utterly ia led. ] am
sorely disappointed; my husband and
my father will be the same l have
failed; as last resource, will you see
my father, Lord stair?"
A perfect daze of pain seemed
fall over the pale face and no ct eyes;
a look like that of hunted animal at
bay crept into them.
nv father" continued the duchess
sis kindly, generous man; he has had
a sreat sorrow in his life Let him
see you Mrs. Grey"
Your father, Lord Stair" she an
swered. in low, hoarse voice. Lord
Stair come here to see meP"
Il am quite sure," continued the
kindly young voice, 'that even if you
will not trust me, you will trust bi ~
My father gives to every one nse OF
protection and comfort You would
trust himp'
My only trust is in ''eaven!' she
repl ed. II have no other.
but YOU will see my fatherP l urge
it, because l know good will come of
it. lie wanted to come
Mrs. Grey repeated the words after
her with the air of person perfec ly
dazed.
"Be uaated to cone and see me?"
she said slowly; "to see meP"
Eyes; but persuaded HIM to let me
come in his stead IL thought had
me influence over you, and that
could persuade you to trust in me-"
l can not see Lord Stair" she cried
vehemently. II will not see him. If
he should come near shall fall dea !. T."
She sto ped, sudden v rem mbering
all that the passion of her words would
betray. Il will see no one here in this
vile place-in this vile dress. If you
have heart of pity, heart OF grace, do
not bring Lord Stair here"
why should you fear to see him?
He would be most kind to YOU"
All. whyP She would rather the
fame of lightning should strike her
dead than see him She controlled
herself; she felt as if her agitation and
emotion must betray her The duchess
was looking at her with wondering
eyes.
II wish,' she continued. that you
would see him; hut | FORGET. You
wish to keep your secret, and he would
know at once whether you were Phpbe
| Askern or not"
She asked with faltering lips:
docs he, your father, remember
| Phpbe Askern?'
Yes; she was tall. fair woman. he
says. and though he saw little of her he
could recognize her face. He would
like to see her. He thinks she would
know more than he does of the last
hours of my mother"
A softened, tender light came into
the sad face.
''DOes he think SO much, then, Of
this lost mOtherp she asked.
Eyes; he thinks of her always. He
has thought of her continually. He
loved her very dearly. She was the
only love of his life. If you are hebe
Askern you must know how he 10, ed
her and how it would comfort him to
see you to know if you were with her
when she died-to know how she died y
"Hush" said Mrs. Grey. cannot
bear it. / can not see Lord Stair. Ii
is all a mistake" she added viii "
81 could tell him nothing. wish-ah,
Heaven! wish that were deadr
Il will say no more about it, since
it distresses you. Mrs. Grey. Must
leave you with this miserable sense OF
failure, unable to elicit any informa
ton from you over matters of vital in
tcrest to me, and equally
unable to fulfil the desire OF NV heart
and help you3 Must leave you SOP
.'There is no help for it," answered
Yrs. Grey; but the pain and disappoint-
ment on the beautiful young face were
more than she could bear
al would give my life twenty times
over if it could be Different" she sa
''Do forget me. | hate myself fol
the trouble / have brought into your
life, Leave me now, for have borne
as much as l can bear. DO not com,
back to me ever again. Do not look so
pitlfully, it unnerves me. Do not come
back to me. v hen these five years are
over ! shall 90 away from England.
shall 60 to Amer ca, and so pass com
pletely out of y our lives. Forget me-
and all the trouble have caused you.
1T grieves me TO the very heart, y
said the duchess, but ] must do rs
you wish" Something of relief came
over Mrs. Grey's ace; she drew nearer
to the young girl.
"You are great Duchess" she said.
land am a poor prisoner. The dis
lance between us is as great as great
can be; will you for one moment bridge
1t o err? 1t is the last time we shall
meet, the last time my eyes ill look
on face that has been like he face of
an angel to me. May kiss your face
before we partP"
AS she listened to the plaintive words
spoken with sad, sweet dignity. the
duchess said 10 herself
"Whoever else she may be she is GER
tainly not my mothers maid; that is
neither the voice nor the manner of a
maid"
She went to her, clasped her arms
round the graceful, fragile figure; tears
were raining down her face.
Il came to helpyou," she said, "and
| am leaving you more anxious and dis
tressed than ever. / can not bear to
think this is the last time we shall meet.
| do not know what binds my heart to
you, but something does; / do not know
why love you, but / do love you with
all my heart"
Mrs. Grey knew; she knew it was that
sweet subtle love between mother and
child that speaks even when it is not
understood.
She, too, threw her arms round her
daughter, and they stood for one mo-
ment Loot ed in close embrace.
II shall take the memory of that
with me to my dying day." said the
prisoner. go now, my dear; I have
kissed your face | want no more"